Author: Aman Atulya

The AI arena is heating up and Microsoft just dropped a showstopper. Following OpenAI’s GPT-5 rollout, Google’s Gemini upgrade, and the debut of Storybook AI, Microsoft quietly launched Copilot 3D—an experimental AI that converts a single 2D image into a fully interactive 3D model. This launch arrives under the Copilot Labs, Microsoft’s innovation testing ground. What It Means: The Bigger Picture: This is more than a flashy new feature it’s Microsoft signaling that AI creativity tools are about to become mainstream. As generative AI shifts from chatbots to creative accelerators, every startup from gaming to education must rethink how they…

India’s gifting sector has quietly grown over the last decade, raising $115.9 million between 2015 and 2025, according to Tracxn’s Gifting Platforms Wrap Report. While significant, the figure pales in comparison to the $1.7 billion raised globally in the same period. The sector’s funding momentum peaked in 2022, when startups secured $63.9 million driven by a surge in digital-first gifting platforms and festive season demand. However, the past two years have been challenging: The slowdown mirrors a global trend. Worldwide, gifting startups raised $66.2 million so far in 2025, down from $99.8 million in 2024 and a high of $218…

The global AI stage lit up this week with a war of words between some of tech’s biggest names. At the launch of GPT-5, now integrated into Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot, and Azure AI Foundry, Elon Musk wasted no time making headlines. The Tesla and xAI founder declared:“OpenAI is going to eat Microsoft alive.” Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, responded with calm confidence: “People have been trying for 50 years and that’s the fun of it!” But Musk wasn’t finished. He claimed that Grok 4 Heavy, the latest model from his AI company xAI, already outperforms GPT-5. Taking it further,…

Mumbai | August, 2025 — In a defining move for India’s AI infrastructure, Ola’s AI venture Krutrim, founded by Bhavish Aggarwal, has partnered with data and AI platform leader Cloudera. The alliance is aimed at powering large-scale analytics and data lake capabilities for Krutrim Cloud, beginning with the Ola ecosystem and soon expanding to other enterprise customers. Krutrim is building a vertically integrated cloud stack spanning compute, storage, data management, and AI models optimized for India’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape. With Cloudera’s scalable data platform and consulting services, Krutrim is equipping its infrastructure to process real-time, high-volume datasets, accelerate…

Ahmedabad / Mumbai | August 8, 2025 — In a sharp strategic pivot, Infibeam Avenues has agreed to transfer its entire e-commerce platform technology infrastructure business to its own subsidiary, Rediff.com, in a ₹800.39 crore slump sale. The transaction, approved by Infibeam’s board, is structured with ₹400 crore in cash and the remaining ₹400.39 crore via equity issuance. Post-deal, Infibeam will hold a commanding 82% stake in Rediff. The e-commerce segment being transferred contributed ₹180 crore in revenue and ₹137 crore in EBITDA for FY 24–25—accounting for just 4.8% of Infibeam’s topline but nearly 19% of its net worth. Infibeam’s…

Mumbai | August, 2025 — As Zepto speeds toward its IPO, a strategic investor has joined the fast lane. MapmyIndia, the geospatial intelligence pioneer, has invested ₹25 crore in the 10-minute delivery unicorn, acquiring a 0.049% stake at a valuation of ₹50,000+ crore (~$6B). The investment isn’t just financial. Zepto will now integrate MapmyIndia’s location APIs into its backend enhancing delivery precision, real-time tracking, and route optimization across metros. Strategic Fit, Not Just Capital Founded by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto has emerged as a leader in India’s quick commerce race. Backed by investors like StepStone, Nexus Venture Partners,…

August 8, 2025 — In its latest bid to humanize digital interactions, Meta has acquired WaveForms AI, a nascent audio startup focused on detecting and replicating emotion in voice. This marks a powerful leap toward more expressive, emotionally rich AI experiences across Meta’s platforms. A New Chapter from the Metaverse Maestro WaveForms AI, founded in December 2024 by audio technologists former teams at OpenAI and Google, had already captured attention with a $40 million seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz. Their mission: build AI that understands not just words—but the feelings behind them. This acquisition propels WaveForms’s founders, Alexis Conneau…

Bengaluru | August 7, 2025 — Outzidr, a fashion label built for India’s go‑anywhere Gen Z women, has raised ₹27 crore (≈ $3.1 million) in a pre‑Series A round led by RTP Global, along with participation from existing investor Stellaris Venture Partners. Founded in 2024 by fashion veterans Nirmal Jain, Mani Kant Mani, and Justin Mario, Outzidr blends fast fashion with data intelligence to stay ahead of trends. In just five months, it has served over 125,000 customers, launched thousands of styles, and is tracking toward a ₹100 crore annualized run‑rate by year‑end. The fresh funding will power: Outzidr’s “test and scale” model starts with limited-run…

Chennai | August 7, 2025 — At mango season’s peak, one startup is turning the spotlight back on India’s king of fruits. MangoPoint, founded in 2018 by Manjula Gandhi Rooban and Prasanna Venkatarathnam, has raised $1 million in a Pre-Series A round led by Inflection Point Ventures, with support from The Chennai Angels, Native Angel Network, Keiretsu Forum India, Fondation Botnar, IIM-CAN, Metis Family Office, and JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation. MangoPoint isn’t just exporting mangoes it’s shipping an experience. Specializing in chemical-free, carbide-free, single-origin mangoes and processed products, the startup currently moves over 2,000 metric tonnes annually, with plans…

New Delhi | August 7, 2025 — After over a decade away from greenfield coal investments, private sector giants are back in the game. Adani Power has announced a $3 billion, 2.4 GW coal-fired power plant in Bihar marking India’s largest privately funded coal initiative in ten years. The plant, to be built in Pirpainti, will roll out in three units: the first set to go live within four years, the final one by year five. It follows closely on the heels of two other Adani projects 1.5 GW in Uttar Pradesh and 1.6 GW in Maharashtra that were recently awarded. Adani Power…